Not all thieves are stupid
Long term parking Ever left your car in long-stay parking at an airport? If someone were to break into the car and found the car's registration documents in the glove compartment,
You could get home to see that your house has been ransacked and anything of worth has been stolen, because thieves can use information in yoursat-nav to guide them to your house and use the garage gizmo to gain entry and know that you won't be home until the final whistle blows at Kingsholm. Never put your home address into your sat-nav - choose a place nearby, chances are you'll know the way home from there! Shopping trolley scam Do you leave your purse or wallet in a bag in the trolley while you go off and pick the ripest tomatoes? You return to find it's been stolen.You go home and get a call from the supermarket security to tell you that they've found it and to come back to the shop and pick it up. Only it's not security that has called. It's the thieves who know exactly what the person is hoping to hear. They've lured you out of the house and they have your address because it's on personal papers in the purse or wallet.
they now know where you live and that you are away from home. So, when you leave your car in a long-stay car park, think about what is in the glove compartment.
Sat-nav Do you leave your sat-nav on display when you park at the rugby? Is the electronic gizmo that opens your garage door left in the car too?
If someone was to break in and steal it, the broken window may be the least of your concerns.
By the time you've popped back to the shop, the burglars are in your house.
Mobile phones You have all your contacts listed by name and relationships, don't you? Well imagine if your bag gets stolen and your phone is in it. You go to the nearest payphone to phone your nearest and dearest to tell them and they say "I got your text asking for your PIN and replied a little while ago and replied." By the time you call the bank, your account will, at best, be dented - remember they've already got your cards, those were in the bag as well. All because you have "hubby" or "wife" in your contacts.
Lessons Don't leave anything in your car that could be a clue to where you live. Don't disclose relationships in your phone contact lists - this includes those nicknames you have for each other! Never reply to a request for sensitive information by text - even if it is from your mother or husband. Ring back, then you can be sure who you are giving the information to l
May 2019 | www. punchline-gloucester .com | 53
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